title: Acoustic reflectometry for assessment of hearing loss in children with middle ear effusion.
abstract: We sought associations between acoustic reflectometry and hearing loss in ears with and without middle ear effusion in 137 New Zealand children ages 3 to 16 years. Reflectometry was significantly associated with conductive hearing loss. These associations were present in the entire sample; correlation coefficients varied between 0.31 at 2000 Hz (P less than 0.001) and 0.55 for a three frequency pure tone average (P less than 0.001). The associations persisted for the sample of ears deemed to be filled entirely by effusion; correlation coefficients varied between 0.27 at 4000 Hz (P = 0.026) and 0.47 at 500 Hz (P less than 0.001). Using a reflectivity of 6.0 or greater to detect a three frequency pure tone average loss of 30 dB or more, the sensitivity was 88% and the specificity was 44%. The technique of acoustic reflectometry should be explored and extended to permit rational decisions about management of middle ear effusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Teele
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Teele
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tregonning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D012044:Regression Analysis